Written Answers Friday 12 December 2008

Scottish Executive

Alcohol Misuse

Claire Baker (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many pupils have been suspended or expelled for alcohol-related issues in mid Scotland and Fife in each of the last five years, broken down by local authority area.

Maureen Watt: The available information on the number of pupils of temporarily excluded from school in each Local Authority area for "Substance misuse – alcohol" from 2003-04 - 2006-07 can be found in the answer to question S3W-18241 on 11 December 2008.

  There were no pupils permanently excluded from school, also known as removed from the register, in mid Scotland and Fife for "Substance misuse – alcohol" from 2003-04 - 2006-07:

  Prior to 2003-04, although information was collected on the reason for exclusion, different categories were used and it is impossible to identify those excluded for "Substance misuse –alcohol".

  All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

Bees

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive which islands and areas have had no reports of the presence of the varroa mite in the bee population.

Richard Lochhead: Varroa is endemic and no longer classed as a notifiable disease of honey bees. The Scottish Government therefore does not receive reports of where it is or is not present. To do so would create an additional, and unnecessary, burden to what is essentially a hobbyist sector.

  The Scottish Government does, however, take an interest in the mite and the impact it can have on bee colonies. To assist beekeepers improve their skills to deal with varroa, the Scottish government funds the full time post of a specialist bee adviser at the Scottish Agriculture College to provide free advice and training both at the college and across the country

Bees

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it is taking to ensure that varroa mite does not spread to those islands currently free of the mite.

Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government has recently brought forward a Honey Bee Health Strategy for Scotland. The strategy recognises the need for partnership working between Government and stakeholders in order to minimise the risk of spreading bee diseases or bee pests throughout Scotland.

  While ultimate responsibility for safeguarding the health of their bees lies with beekeepers, the Scottish Government provides free advice and training for beekeepers in the identification and treatment of diseases and pests, and a free diagnostic service. Good husbandry, the appropriate use of treatments and care when sourcing queens will all contribute to limiting the spread of the Varroa mite.

Bees

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the implications are for the application of resources, research and analysis to combat the spread of the varroa mite if it is not a notifiable disease.

Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government has produced a Strategy for Honey Bees the aim of which is to achieve a sustainable population of bees for pollination and honey production. This envisages a partnership between the Scottish Government and stakeholders.

  Responses to the strategy are being collated and analysed at present; thereafter responsibilities for delivery will be discussed with stakeholders.

Bees

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what evidence it has of a growing resistance to the existing and licensed treatments for varroa mite in bee populations.

Richard Lochhead: In a survey organised by the Scottish Government Rural Directorate earlier this year, the presence of varroa mites that had developed resistance to the treatments currently licensed in the UK was confirmed in colonies of bees in Dumfries and Galloway. Results from Perthshire and Angus were inconclusive but indicated the probability of resistant mites.

  While the Scottish survey was limited, it is known that Pyrethroid resistance has developed in the varroa mite in many countries worldwide, including much of Europe. The first evidence of resistance in the UK appeared in the south west of England in 2001 and has since spread across England and Wales.

Bees

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on plans to license new products for the treatment of the varroa mite in bee populations.

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what products are licensed at EU level for the treatment of the varroa mite in bee populations that are not licensed for use in Scotland.

Richard Lochhead: The regulation of veterinary medicines is a reserved matter. Responsibility for authorising the marketing of veterinary medicinal products in the UK rests with Defra’s Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD).

  From enquiries made of other member states, the VMD is aware that there are three products, Apiva, Api Life Var and Excoxal that are licensed elsewhere, but not in the UK.

  Although decisions on whether to apply for a marketing authorisation for a veterinary medicinal product are commercially based on the likelihood of sufficient commercial return, the Scottish Government is aware that the VMD have invited the manufacturers of the products mentioned above to apply to have these products mutually recognised in the UK. If these applications are made and are successful the products will be fully authorised for sale and administration in the UK.

  To further facilitate the approval of these products, the VMD has agreed to a reduction in the data required in support of the application. They have also waived their fees for field trials intended to develop data to support applications for products intended for use in bees.

  Meanwhile, European and UK legislation permits veterinary surgeons to import veterinary medicines which are authorised in another member state to treat animals in their care under the prescribing cascade. The VMD recognises that veterinary surgeons are not normally involved in the treatment of bees and is considering with beekeeping representatives whether alternative import arrangements can be introduced.

Bees

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what research into varroa mite control it is funding.

Richard Lochhead: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-17952 on 3 December 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx .

Bees

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what assistance it offers to beekeepers to understand the nature of the impact of the varroa mite and what measures beekeepers can take to combat its spread.

Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government fully funds the post of a bee specialist at the Scottish Agriculture College to provide, free of charge, training and education of and advice to beekeepers on bee health and husbandry.

  Furthermore, the training courses are made available across the country to reduce the costs to beekeepers in attending and are intended to equip beekeepers with the skills to manage varroa in the hive, to identify bee diseases and to generally improve husbandry of the hive.

Bees

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many beekeepers there are in Scotland.

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that a registration scheme for beekeepers would be important in helping to inform beekeepers of disease threats and to help combat the spread of disease in bee populations.

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to introduce a registration scheme for beekeepers.

Richard Lochhead: It is not known how many beekeepers there are in Scotland. There are thought to be about 1,200 beekeepers who are members of beekeeping associations but there are known to be many who keep bees as a hobby who are not members of any.

  The absence of accurate numbers of beekeepers is a matter of concern to the Scottish Government and beekeeping associations. It means that not only is it difficult to provide comprehensive advice and training but, in the event of an outbreak of notifiable pests there would be no guarantee that it would be possible to contact all those who might be affected and eradicate the problem.

  The possibility of establishing a database of beekeepers is discussed in the Honey Bee Health Strategy in Scotland. There is no power to establish a compulsory registration scheme but the establishment of a voluntary scheme will be taken forward in discussions with beekeeping associations about the implementation of the strategy.

Bees

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will support the restoration of a network of bee advisers.

Richard Lochhead: Scotland does not and has never had a network of bee advisers.

  The Scottish Government does however fund the Scottish Agriculture College to employ a bee specialist to provide training, education and advice to beekeepers in Scotland.

Broadcasting

Iain Smith (North East Fife) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how it is ensuring that Skills Development Scotland, Skillset and the further and higher education sectors are positioned to anticipate changes in the skills requirement in the fast-moving broadcasting environment and realign their activities accordingly to avoid skills gaps, in line with the recommendation of the Scottish Broadcasting Commission.

Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government is committed to taking forward the recommendations in the Scottish Broadcasting Commission report – Platform for Success – which seek to address skills issues within the sector.

  We are working with all the organisations who have a role in implementing the Broadcasting Commission Report and we intend to publish a full response to the Report at the end of the year. The response will include more detailed information about how we will progress each of the specific recommendations.

Children and Young People

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what measures are in place to ensure that staff in school kitchens and canteens are disclosure checked.

Adam Ingram: It is the responsibility of local authorities and independent schools to apply to Disclosure Scotland for enhanced disclosures for staff working in school kitchens and canteens. The reasons for this are set out below.

  The meaning of a "child care position" is set out in schedule 2 of the Protection of Children (Scotland) Act 2003, as amended by Scottish Statutory Instrument 2008 No 260. A child care position is one where the normal duties include work in a school, except the work of Parent Councils and activity primarily intended for persons aged 18 or over. This means that staff working in school kitchens and canteens are in a child care position.

  Although there is no requirement to have an enhanced disclosure for child care positions it is however an offence for any person who is disqualified from working with children to apply for, offer to do, accept or do any work in a child care position. It is also an offence for employers to offer work in a child care position to anyone disqualified from working with children. Therefore, it is the responsibility of organisations to request enhanced disclosures for those applying for child care positions as a check that the individual is not on the Disqualified from Working with Children List.

Coastal Protection

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how the coastal landscape and seascape are protected during the planning process when new coastal developments are under consideration.

Stewart Stevenson: The primary responsibility for determining planning applications lies with local and national park authorities, although Scottish ministers have a general power to intervene.

  Planning applications must be determined in accordance with the development plan unless material considerations indicate otherwise. Most local plans have policies on the landscape impacts of development, and many have specific policies dealing with coastal development.

  Impacts on landscapes and seascape may be a material consideration taken into account by planning authorities when considering proposed developments, as may relevant Scottish Government planning policy. National Planning Policy Guideline 13 : Coastal Planning (NPPG 13) and NPPG 14: Natural Heritage set out relevant Scottish Government planning policy on developments affecting coastal landscapes and seascapes. For fish farm developments, planning authorities must also take account of Scottish Planning Policy 22: Planning for Fish Farming.

  Developers proposing the construction, extension or operation of a marine based generating station over 1 Megawatt in size within Scottish territorial waters (out to 12 nautical miles) or the Scottish Renewable Energy Zone (12nm to 200nm) will require Scottish Ministers consent under section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989. Developers considering any marine developments are subject to a number of legislative and other regulatory requirements including the Food and Environment Protection Act 1985 and the Coast Protection Act 1949. The local planning authority, Scottish Natural Heritage and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency are consulted on proposals. Issues such as landscape, ecology and navigation may be material considerations taken into account by Scottish ministers when making a determination.

Concessionary Travel

David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will extend the national concessionary travel scheme to include rail travel.

David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider the Inverness to Wick and Thurso railway lines for a pilot to consider the possible extension of the national concessionary travel scheme.

Stewart Stevenson: The review of the Scotland Wide Free Bus Travel Scheme for Older and Disabled People is still ongoing. I expect to receive a report of the review in the next few weeks and shall consider recommendations made by the Steering Group who carried out the review.

Creative Industries

Iain Smith (North East Fife) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what funding it is making available in 2009-10 to Skillset, either directly or through Scottish Screen or any other agency, to support the development of improved training and continuing professional development in the creative industries.

Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government provides no core funding to Skillset, or any other Sector Skills Council. This funding is provided by the UK Commission for Employment Skills via a grant in aid from the Department of Innovation, Universities and Skills.

  However, through the Scottish Funding Council (SFC) support for the Screen Academy will be £108,332 in the financial year 2009-10. This is the final proportion of a £300,000 grant running from October 2007 to September 2009. The SFC will also provide support to the Creative Loop partnership (Creative Media Academy network) which will be £87,057 in financial year 2009-10.

  The Scottish Screen Academy and Creative Loop are both Skillset accredited initiatives which allows Skillset to be fully involved in their response to skills needs in those sectors.

Crime

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive (a) how many and (b) what type of offences were committed by people on bail in each of the last five years, broken down by police force area.

Kenny MacAskill: The following table contains the number of offences with a charge proved, in each of the last five years for which data is available, where a bail aggravation was recorded. The table is broken down by the main crime category of the offence that was committed while on bail.

  While data has been provided in this answer for each of the years 2002-03 to 2006-07, data on bail aggravators has only been published in the annual Criminal Proceedings in Scottish Courts bulletin for the years 2005-06 and 2006-07. This is because 2005-06 was the first year when the data was considered to be of sufficient quality and coverage to be published.

  Offences with a Charge Proved, 2002-03 to 2006-07 with a Bail Aggravator Recorded, by Main Crime and Police Force Area

  

 2002-03
 Police Force Area


 Crime category
 Central
Dumfries and Galloway
 Fife
 Grampian
Lothian And Borders
 Northern
 Strathclyde
 Tayside
Scotland


 All crimes and offences
 1,932
 330
 1,576
 1,947
 3,429
 713
 6,139
 2,016
 18,082


 All crimes
 916
 184
 786
 1,043
 1,648
 301
 3,087
 967
 8,932


 Non-sexual crimes of violence
 16
 2
 18
 9
 47
 8
 53
 13
 166


 Crimes of indecency 
 0
 0
 1
 4
 5
 1
 8
 0
 19


 Crimes of dishonesty 
 655
 147
 615
 771
 1,132
 193
 1,906
 496
 5,915


 Fire-raising, vandalism, etc 
 51
 6
 29
 47
 93
 24
 131
 47
 428


 Other crimes 
 194
 29
 123
 212
 371
 75
 989
 411
 2,404


 All offences
 1,016
 146
 790
 904
 1,781
 412
 3,052
 1,049
 9,150


 Miscellaneous offences 
 464
 95
 351
 388
 899
 261
 1,721
 485
 4,664


 Motor vehicle offences 
 552
 51
 439
 516
 882
 151
 1,331
 564
 4,486



  Note: 1. Indicating that the offence was committed while the offender was on bail.

  

 2003-04
 Police Force Area


 Crime category
 Central
 Dumfries and Galloway
 Fife
 Grampian
 Lothian and Borders
 Northern
 Strathclyde
 Tayside
Scotland2


 All crimes and offences
 1,474
 432
 2,077
 2,515
 2,872
 852
 9,693
 2,596
 22,512


 All crimes
 729
 203
 1,169
 1,352
 1,507
 348
 4,834
 1,346
 11,488


 Non-sexual crimes of violence
 25
 2
 10
 25
 50
 8
 103
 6
 229


 Crimes of indecency 
 0
 1
 0
 4
 3
 1
 44
 2
 55


 Crimes of dishonesty 
 457
 138
 906
 981
 978
 189
 2,755
 546
 6,950


 Fire-raising, vandalism, etc 
 51
 14
 57
 52
 84
 45
 267
 65
 635


 Other crimes 
 196
 48
 196
 290
 392
 105
 1,665
 727
 3,619


 All offences
 745
 229
 908
 1,163
 1,365
 504
 4,859
 1,250
 11,024


 Miscellaneous offences 
 399
 146
 427
 515
 723
 336
 2,956
 674
 6,177


 Motor vehicle offences 
 346
 83
 481
 648
 642
 168
 1,903
 576
 4,847



  Notes:

  1. Indicating that the offence was committed while the offender was on bail.

  2. Scotland total includes one record for which the police force area was not known.

  

 2004-05
 Police Force Area


 Crime category
 Central
 Dumfries and Galloway
 Fife
 Grampian
 Lothian and Borders
 Northern
 Strathclyde
 Tayside
Scotland


 All crimes and offences
 1,984
 547
 1,846
 2,262
 3,174
 877
 11,895
 2,958
 25,543


 All crimes
 1,047
 283
 1,052
 1,306
 1,748
 352
 5,851
 1,654
 13,293


 Non-sexual crimes of violence
 31
 3
 16
 24
 41
 4
 179
 14
 312


 Crimes of indecency 
 2
 0
 0
 0
 11
 1
 65
 2
 81


 Crimes of dishonesty 
 572
 154
 764
 926
 1,000
 180
 2,915
 879
 7,390


 Fire-raising, vandalism, etc 
 92
 48
 51
 62
 112
 58
 371
 88
 882


 Other crimes 
 350
 78
 221
 294
 584
 109
 2,321
 671
 4,628


 All offences
 937
 264
 794
 956
 1,426
 525
 6,044
 1,304
 12,250


 Miscellaneous offences 
 608
 192
 407
 513
 864
 392
 4,057
 774
 7,807


 Motor vehicle offences 
 329
 72
 387
 443
 562
 133
 1,987
 530
 4,443



  Note: 1. Indicating that the offence was committed while the offender was on bail.

  

 2005-06
 Police Force Area


 Crime category
 Central
 Dumfries and Galloway
 Fife
 Grampian
 Lothian and Borders
 Northern
 Strathclyde
 Tayside
Scotland2


 All crimes and offences
 1,719
 512
 1,710
 2,214
 3,407
 838
 12,520
 2,873
 25,794


 All crimes
 864
 237
 989
 1,276
 1,832
 353
 5,752
 1,673
 12,977


 Non-sexual crimes of violence
 19
 9
 27
 20
 60
 12
 137
 23
 308


 Crimes of indecency 
 4
 1
 4
 10
 17
 3
 109
 10
 158


 Crimes of dishonesty 
 411
 135
 648
 879
 1,055
 177
 2,580
 886
 6,771


 Fire-raising, vandalism, etc 
 61
 17
 88
 57
 95
 41
 373
 96
 828


 Other crimes 
 369
 75
 222
 310
 605
 120
 2,553
 658
 4,912


 All offences
 855
 275
 721
 938
 1,575
 485
 6,768
 1,200
 12,817


 Miscellaneous offences 
 579
 208
 373
 514
 996
 363
 4,511
 735
 8,279


 Motor vehicle offences 
 276
 67
 348
 424
 579
 122
 2,257
 465
 4,538



  Notes:

  1. Indicating that the offence was committed while the offender was on bail.

  2. Scotland total includes one record for which the police force area was not known.

  

 2006-07
 Police Force Area


 Crime category
 Central
 Dumfries and Galloway
 Fife
 Grampian
 Lothian and Borders
 Northern
 Strathclyde
 Tayside
Scotland


 All crimes and offences
 2,230
 680
 1,914
 2,417
 3,788
 1,091
 13,809
 3,036
 28,965


 All crimes
 1,131
 325
 1,176
 1,413
 2,040
 512
 6,505
 1,920
 15,022


 Non-sexual crimes of violence
 43
 16
 29
 41
 91
 15
 265
 43
 543


 Crimes of indecency 
 6
 4
 2
 15
 15
 1
 136
 6
 185


 Crimes of dishonesty 
 509
 162
 782
 821
 1,092
 225
 2,656
 986
 7,233


 Fire-raising, vandalism, etc 
 117
 43
 99
 81
 117
 60
 414
 62
 993


 Other crimes 
 456
 100
 264
 455
 725
 211
 3,034
 823
 6,068


 All offences
 1,099
 355
 738
 1,004
 1,748
 579
 7,304
 1,116
 13,943


 Miscellaneous offences 
 749
 264
 456
 616
 1,067
 456
 5,099
 737
 9,444


 Motor vehicle offences 
 350
 91
 282
 388
 681
 123
 2,205
 379
 4,499



  Note: 1. Indicating that the offence was committed while the offender was on bail.

Crime

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive (a) how many and (b) what type of offences were committed by people on bail for knife-related offences in each of the last five years, broken down by police force area.

Kenny MacAskill: This information is not held centrally.

  The following table gives the number of bail orders made in the last five years where the original offence was for handling an offensive weapon. Bail orders for crimes involving knives cannot be identified separately from those involving other types of offensive weapon. Information is not available on the number of these bail orders where the individual subsequently committed a further offence while still subject to the order.

  Bail Orders where the Main Offence was "Handling an Offensive Weapon" by Police Force Area, 2002-03 to 2006-07

  

 Police Force Area
 Year


 2002-03
 2003-04
 2004-05
 2005-06
 2006-07


 Central 
 67
 69
 86
 110
 162


 Dumfries and Galloway
 22
 44
 52
 37
 64


 Fife 
 62
 38
 43
 35
 102


 Grampian 
 59
 83
 96
 92
 155


 Lothian and Borders 
 214
 201
 254
 310
 423


 Northern 
 33
 37
 45
 67
 99


 Strathclyde 
 1,360
 1,684
 1,822
 1,990
 2,158


 Tayside 
 159
 172
 234
 179
 213


 Scotland 
 1,976
 2,328
 2,632
 2,820
 3,376

Crofting

Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive on what information the Committee of Inquiry on Crofting, chaired by Professor Shucksmith, based its recommendation that a centralised bull hire facility should be ended.

Michael Russell: The Committee of Inquiry on Crofting operated independently of the Scottish Government, commissioned its own evidence and undertook its own consultation. It placed much of the information it gathered on its website at http://www.croftinginquiry.org/ .

Crofting

Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Committee of Inquiry on Crofting, chaired by Professor Shucksmith, had access to a draft report by Peter Cook on the economics and options for the Crofters Cattle Quality Improvement Scheme before considering its recommendation to end the scheme as currently constituted.

Michael Russell: The Committee of Inquiry on Crofting operated independently of the Scottish Government, commissioned its own evidence and undertook its own consultation. The formal appraisal report, in terms of the contract issued by the Crofters Commission, was not received until 1 October 2008. Previous incomplete drafts would not have been available to the Committee of Inquiry.

Drug and Alcohol Misuse

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many arrest-referral schemes are in operation, broken down by drug action team (DAT), alcohol and drug action team (ADAT) or drug and alcohol action team (DAAT).

Fergus Ewing: Arrest-referral schemes, to which the Scottish Government provides contributory funding, operate in the following areas:

  Edinburgh and Midlothian. Action on Alcohol and Drugs in Edinburgh; Midlothian (DAAT).

  Tayside: Dundee (DAAAT); Perth and Kinross (DAAT); Angus (DAAAT).

  Renfrewshire: Greater Glasgow and Clyde (DAT).

  Lanarkshire: Lanarkshire (ADAT).

  Dumfries and Galloway: Dumfries and Galloway (ADAT).

  Glasgow: Greater Glasgow and Clyde (AAT).

  Aberdeen: Aberdeen City (JADAT).

Drug and Alcohol Misuse

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many drug action team (DAT), alcohol and drug action team (ADAT) or drug and alcohol action team (DAAT) areas have supervised dispensing schemes for (a) disulfiram, (b) suboxone and (c) buprenorphine.

Fergus Ewing: This information is not held centrally. It is the responsibility of Alcohol and Drug Action Teams, with their local partners, to consider and put in place services which best meet local needs and priorities.

Forestry

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has made an assessment of the impact on black grouse in Dumfries and Galloway of leasing out parts of the national forest estate and whether it will publish any such assessment.

Michael Russell: Offering management leases and cutting rights is a potential option for releasing capital from the national forest estate which could be used to fund woodland creation projects to help mitigate climate change. This option is included in a public consultation currently being carried out on Climate Change and the National Forest Estate at  http://www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/INFD-7KUMVM .

  The consultation closes on 27 January 2009. All responses will be carefully considered and will be taken into account as part of a wider options review being carried out by Forestry Commission Scotland.

  No assessment has been made of the impact on black grouse in Dumfries and Galloway. However, the consultation exercise and options review will help inform Forestry Commission Scotland’s deliberations on the potential impact on all biodiversity and wildlife within the national forest estate, and this will help determine the range and nature of safeguards to be included in any leases.

Forestry

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has made an assessment of the impact on fisheries of leasing out parts of the national forest estate in Dumfries and Galloway and whether it will publish any such assessment.

Michael Russell: Offering management leases and cutting rights is a potential option for releasing capital from the national forest estate which could be used to fund woodland creation projects to help mitigate climate change. This option is included in a public consultation currently being carried out on Climate Change and the National Forest Estate at http://www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/INFD-7KUMVM .

  The consultation closes on 27 January 2009. All responses will be carefully considered and will be taken into account as part of a wider options review being carried out by Forestry Commission Scotland.

  No assessment has been made of the impact on fisheries in Dumfries and Galloway. However, the consultation exercise and options review will help inform Forestry Commission Scotland’s deliberations on the potential impact on all biodiversity and wildlife within the national forest estate, and this will help determine the range and nature of safeguards to be included in any leases.

Forestry

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the income was to Forest Enterprise Scotland from sales of timber in (a) 2003-04, (b) 2004-05, (c) 2005-06, (d) 2006-07 and (e) 2007-08.

Michael Russell: Details of Forest Enterprise Scotland’s income from sales of timber in the past five years are listed in the following table:

  Income from Timber Sales

  

 Year
 Amount


 2003-04
£32.3 million


 2004-05
£35.4 million


 2005-06
£34.9 million


 2006-07
£36.7 million


 2007-08
£42.1 million

Forestry

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the projected income is to Forest Enterprise Scotland from sales of timber in (a) 2008-09, (b) 2009-10 and (c) 2010-11.

Michael Russell: Details of Forest Enterprise Scotland’s projected income from sales of timber in the next three years, as set out in Forestry Commission Scotland’s Corporate Plan 2008-11, are listed in the following table:

  Projected Income from Timber Sales

  

 Year
 Amount


 2008-09
£42.8 million


 2009-0
£42.6 million


 2010-11
£44.0 million



  The current economic downturn will, of course, influence these forecasts.

Forestry

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to transfer responsibility for forest planning under the lease arrangements proposed in its paper Climate Change and the National Forest Estate - Consultation on forestry provision in the Scottish Climate Change Bill .

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to transfer responsibility for upkeep and development of forest roads under the lease arrangements proposed in its paper Climate Change and the National Forest Estate - Consultation on forestry provisions in the Scottish Climate Change Bill .

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to transfer responsibility for forest protection and maintenance under the lease arrangements proposed in its paper Climate Change and the National Forest Estate - Consultation on forestry provisions in the Scottish Climate Change Bill .

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to transfer responsibility for management and development of the forest estate under the lease arrangements proposed in its paper Climate Change and the National Forest Estate - Consultation on forestry provisions in the Scottish Climate Change Bill .

Michael Russell: Offering management leases and cutting rights is a potential option for releasing capital from the national forest estate which could be used to fund woodland creation projects to help mitigate climate change. This option is included in a public consultation currently being carried out on Climate Change and the National Forest Estate at http://www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/INFD-7KUMVM .

  The consultation closes on 27 January 2009. All responses will be carefully considered and will be taken into account as part of a wider options review being carried out by Forestry Commission Scotland.

  The consultation exercise and options review will help inform Forestry Commission Scotland’s deliberations on the detail of lease arrangements, should the option be taken forward.

Forestry

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many hectares of new woodlands have been created in each of the last five years by the (a) public and (b) private sector.

Michael Russell: The total amount of hectares of new woodland that have been created in each of the last five years are listed in the following tables. Figures for restocking are also shown.

  Public Sector

  

 Year
 New Planting
 Restocking
 Total (1,000 Hectares)


 2003-04
 0.1
 5.3
 5.4


 2004-05
 0.1
 6.2
 6.3


 2005-06
 0.1
 5.2
 5.3


 2006-07
 -
 6.4
 6.4


 2007-08
 -
 5.9
 5.9



  Private Sector

  

 Year
 New Planting
 Restocking
 Total (1,000 Hectares)


 2003-04
 6.7
 3.6
 10.3


 2004-05
 5.6
 4.2
 9.8


 2005-06
 3.9
 3.8
 7.7


 2006-07
 6.6
 6.0
 12.6


 2007-08
 4.2
 6.7
 10.8

Forestry

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what it estimates to be the gross value added from direct visitor spend attributable to woodland visits in the public forest estate.

Michael Russell: The estimated total spend per year by visitors to the national forest estate in Scotland is £38.9 million. This figure was calculated from the All Forests Visitor Monitoring Survey which was carried out between June 2004 and June 2007.

  The report can be viewed on the Forestry Commission website at:

  http://www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/infd-7d9fn7.

Forestry

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people are employed in the public forest estate.

Michael Russell: The number of staff currently employed by Forest Enterprise Scotland, the part of Forestry Commission Scotland which manages the national forest estate, is 779.

Forestry

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people Forestry Commission Scotland directly employs.

Michael Russell: Forestry Commission Scotland currently has 943 direct employees.

Health

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the current target of nine weeks for diagnostic tests will be subsumed within the new referral-to-treatment target of 18 weeks by 2011.

Nicola Sturgeon: Yes. The 18 weeks referral-to-treatment standard will cover a patient’s journey from referral to treatment, including any necessary diagnostic tests.

Health

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to ensure that access to CT and MRI scans by direct referral from GPs is increased from 29% of hospitals for CT and 7% for MRI scans to levels matching those in England for 2005-06 of 49% for CT and 34% for MRI.

Nicola Sturgeon: The Better Health, Better Care: Action Plan sets out how the Scottish Government intends to achieve a patient centred NHS for the people of Scotland, which is safe, effective, efficient and equitable. It also includes a challenging target that no patient should wait more than 18 weeks for treatment following referral.

  To achieve this target NHS boards will need to improve access to hospital services by increasing the effectiveness of clinical care through faster access to outpatients, diagnosis and treatment to meet the needs of their local population. NHSScotland are currently reviewing and redesigning services in each board area to provide patients with swift access to services, including where appropriate GP direct access to scans, as part of their plans to deliver the 18 weeks referral-to-treatment waiting time standard by the end of 2011.

Healthcare Associated Infection

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will introduce a minimum age of two years for the national surveillance programme for Clostridium difficile associated disease.

Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-16201 on 19 September 2008.

  All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

Higher Education

Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the publication of the report of the Joint Future Thinking Taskforce on Universities, what measures will be put in place to guarantee support for the arts, humanities and social sciences.

Fiona Hyslop: New Horizons , the report of the Joint Future Thinking Taskforce on Universities, makes clear that Scotland’s higher education institutions have a key role to shape, preserve and develop our country, our economy, our culture and our society. Their broad contribution to Scotland’s future prosperity is reflected in my letter of guidance to the Scottish Funding Council, which recognises the role of both colleges and universities to deliver economic, social and cultural change. My letter to the Scottish Funding Council can be found on their website at:

  http://www.sfc.ac.uk/about/about_us_guidance.htm.

Higher Education

Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide details of the new funding arrangements for universities referred to in the report of the Joint Future Thinking Taskforce on Universities, specifically the General Fund for Universities and the Horizon Fund for Universities.

Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the General Fund for Universities, outlined in the report of the Future Thinking Taskforce on Universities, includes funding for teaching and learning.

Fiona Hyslop: Details of the new funding arrangements for the General Fund for Universities and the Horizon Fund for Universities are outlined in the Scottish Funding Council’s response to the New Horizons report of the Joint Future Thinking Taskforce. Their response is available on the Scottish Government website at:

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Education/UniversitiesColleges/16640/hetaskforce/JFTTSFCresponce.

Higher Education

Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Horizon Fund for Universities, outlined in the report of the Future Thinking Taskforce on Universities, will be used to increase business engagement.

Fiona Hyslop: I have identified increasing knowledge transfer and innovation as one of my priorities for the Horizon Fund for Universities in my letter of guidance to the Scottish Funding Council dated 18 November 2008.

Higher Education

Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what tailored incentives, as referred to in the report of the Future Thinking Taskforce on Universities, will be offered to encourage universities and businesses to engage collaboratively.

Fiona Hyslop: Encouraging greater collaboration between universities and businesses is one of our key commitments and a main theme highlighted in Science for Scotland.  We will continue to work closely with the Scottish Funding Council, the Enterprise Agencies and Universities Scotland to take forward actions outlined in Science for Scotland to better support innovation and growth from our excellent science base.

  We will also be publishing an Innovation Framework for Scotland in early 2009. It will outline how we plan to stimulate increased demand for innovation across the public and private sectors and ensure that our innovation support systems are best placed to meet that demand. We will work with the enterprise agencies and the Scottish Funding Council to implement the framework through targeted interventions with individual companies and campaigns to spread the message of innovation.

  It is equally important that our universities are engaged with businesses in the drive to improve the use of skills in our workplaces. This is why the Scottish Funding Council is a member of my Skills Utilisation Leadership Group and why they have invited universities to submit proposals to enhance the contribution they make to skills utilisation. In particular, universities are being asked how they could help to address one or more of the areas below:

  Improving provision for people in work to develop their skills in a way that can be better used by their employers or to develop people into new roles;

  Improving leadership and management provision to encourage workplace innovation and more ambitious market strategies;

  Innovative ways of linking knowledge in colleges or universities with business’ skills development and utilisation, and

  Developing individuals to better use in the workplace the skills they acquire in colleges and universities.

  A number of incentives are already in place to encourage collaborative working between universities and businesses. A recent initiative includes a partnership between universities and the chemicals industry to create 31 Chemistry PhD studentships. This is an excellent example of collaboration focussed on a particular industry which is key to increasing sustained economic growth and demonstrates our clear commitment to developing and improving links between universities and businesses.

Higher Education

Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether universities are expected to demonstrate how the government funding that they receive contributes to the Scottish Government’s national outcomes.

Fiona Hyslop: New Horizons , the report from the Joint Future Thinking Taskforce on Universities, made clear that we expect universities to demonstrate that they use funds they receive from the Scottish Government to support activities that are well aligned with our Purpose, our economic and skills strategies and other policy frameworks.

Housing

Mary Mulligan (Linlithgow) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many landlords have applied to the Landlord Registration Scheme and been refused, broken down by local authority area.

Stewart Maxwell: The following table shows the number of applications for registration by private landlords and letting agents received by local authority and the number of applications refused, as at 30 November 2008. Landlords and agents are required to register in each authority where they own or manage property, so these figures include multiple registrations for some individuals or organisations. The figures also include joint owners of property.

  The legislation requires local authorities to work with landlords to improve their practice, before refusing to register a landlord. In addition to refusal, local authorities have a range of enforcement powers which can be used to ensure compliance with registration requirements. These include rent penalty notices and late application fees. At 30 November 2008 over 650 late application fees had been applied and over 400 rent penalty notices had been issued nationally.

  

 Local Authority
Total Applications at 30 November 2008
Total Refusals at 30 November 2008


 Aberdeen City
 10,683
 0


 Aberdeenshire
 4,850
 0


 Angus
 2,401
 0


 Argyll and Bute
 2,376
 0


 Clackmannanshire
 912
 0


 Dumfries and Galloway
 3,358
 0


 Dundee City
 4,739
 0


 East Ayrshire
 2,275
 1


 East Dunbartonshire
 1,423
 0


 East Lothian
 2,610
 0


 East Renfrewshire
 1,197
 0


 Edinburgh, City of
 26,807
 0


 Eilean Siar
 415
 0


 Falkirk
 2,416
 0


 Fife
 7,477
 0


 Glasgow City
 15,896
 1


 Highland
 5,154
 0


 Inverclyde
 1,317
 0


 Midlothian
 1,294
 0


 Moray
 1,819
 0


 North Ayrshire
 2,223
 2


 North Lanarkshire
 3,477
 0


 Orkney Islands
 932
 1


 Perth and Kinross
 3,751
 0


 Renfrewshire
 2,725
 0


 Scottish Borders, The
 3,439
 0


 Shetland Islands
 312
 0


 South Ayrshire
 2,341
 0


 South Lanarkshire
 6,233
 0


 Stirling
 2,621
 0


 West Dunbartonshire
 1,043
 0


 West Lothian
 3,190
 0


 Total
 131,706
 5

Housing

Mary Mulligan (Linlithgow) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how it is publicising the Landlord Registration Scheme to prospective tenants.

Stewart Maxwell: Responsibility for publicising landlord registration rests with local authorities. The Scottish Government provided grant funding for these purposes over the period 2005-08. Templates of leaflets for tenants were also given to local authorities.

  Local authority activity includes:

  Local websites containing details about registration.

  Locally produced newsletters distributed by mailshot to local tenants.

  Radio adverts.

  Newspaper adverts.

  Council-run awareness raising sessions for tenants, for example with migrant workers.

Justice

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to introduce high-visibility vests for offenders completing community service sentences.

Kenny MacAskill: No. However, this government is determined that communities should be made more aware of the work done by offenders as payback for the damage they have caused. Our strategy is focused on giving communities greater say in the work done, and better information about the nature and value of work completed.

  We have funded three Community Justice Authorities to develop innovative approaches to community engagement in this area.

Justice

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what information is recorded on offences committed by people on bail.

Kenny MacAskill: Court proceedings data reported on by the Scottish Government is derived from data held on the Criminal History System at the Scottish Police Services Authority. Among the information collected are the offences which individuals are charged with in Scottish courts, the result of the court proceedings and whether or not a bail aggravator has been recorded against the offence. The fact that a bail aggravator has been recorded indicates that the offence was committed while the individual was on bail. The data does not, however, specify the original offence which the bail aggravator committed in the first place.

Livestock

Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considered the findings of a report by Peter Cook on the Crofters Cattle Quality Improvement Scheme before deciding to end the scheme as currently constituted.

Michael Russell: Before deciding on the future of the Crofters Cattle Quality Improvement Scheme, the Scottish Government had access to drafts of Peter Cook’s appraisal report. The investment appraisal was commissioned primarily to evaluate the capital investment options required to rationalise and modernise the stud farm facilities should the Bull Hire Scheme be continued. The final report, in terms of the contract issued by the Crofters Commission, was received on 1 October 2008.

Local Authorities

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of budget cuts by City of Edinburgh Council, what action it proposes to alleviate the pressure on human and financial resources experienced by community centres and similar community services.

John Swinney: The concordat between Scottish Government and COSLA established a new way of working based upon mutual respect, trust and partnership. The concordat makes it clear that it is the responsibility of each local authority to allocate resources on the basis of local needs and priorities, including the key strategic objectives and manifesto commitments of the Scottish Government.

  In that context, the funding of local services is entirely a matter for local authorities and their partners.

Local Authorities

Joe FitzPatrick (Dundee West) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when it proposes to respond to the 2008 report by the Scottish Local Authorities Remuneration Committee (SLARC).

John Swinney: I wrote to the Chairman of SLARC on 10 December 2008 giving my response to the recommendations contained within the report and I will be bringing forward regulations shortly. The report and my response are available on the Scottish Government website.

Local Government Finance

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of budget cuts by City of Edinburgh Council, whether it is aware of the pressure experienced by those delivering frontline services in the voluntary and statutory sector.

John Swinney: The concordat between Scottish Government and COSLA established a new way of working based upon mutual respect, trust and partnership. The concordat makes it clear that it is the responsibility of each local authority to allocate resources on the basis of local needs and priorities, including the key strategic objectives and manifesto commitments of the Scottish Government.

  In that context, the funding of local services is entirely a matter for local authorities and their partners.

Multiple Sclerosis

John Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what NHS Lanarkshire is doing to increase specialist nursing services for people with multiple sclerosis.

Nicola Sturgeon: The planning of the workforce, including multiple sclerosis specialist nurses, is a matter for NHS Lanarkshire who are responsible for planning services in their area based on clinical need. Services for people with long-term conditions are also for NHS boards to plan and fund from the budgets made available to them by the Scottish Government.

  The need for multiple sclerosis specialist nurses must be seen in the context of a multi-professional team, that includes medical staff and allied health professionals, in caring for those with specific conditions such as multiple sclerosis.

Planning

Christopher Harvie (Mid Scotland and Fife) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects to lay a proposed National Planning Framework before the Parliament in accordance with the requirements of the Planning etc (Scotland) Act 2006.

John Swinney: I am pleased to announce that the proposed National Planning Framework was laid before the Parliament on Friday 12 December 2008, for a period of 60 days consideration.

  The proposed framework builds on the first National Planning Framework, drawing on the analysis contained in the National Planning Framework Monitoring Report (September 2006) and the views of stakeholders following an extensive programme of public engagement. The proposed framework takes forward the spatial aspects of The Government Economic Strategy. It articulates the spatial consequences of policies for transport, energy, climate change, waste management, water and drainage, flooding etc, rather than making policy on these matters. It provides a means of efficiently delivering national policies and programmes and identifying key strategic infrastructure needs which support the Scottish Government’s central purpose of sustainable economic growth.

  Copies of the proposed National Planning Framework are available from the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 47159).

Renewable Energy

Hugh O'Donnell (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-17508 by Jim Mather on 14 November 2008, whether the installation of more efficient turbines of the original size at the downsized hydro generating stations would also result in an increase in renewable output.

Jim Mather: This is a hypothetical question; the decision to reduce the capacity of eight hydro power schemes prior to the introduction of the Renewables Obligation (Scotland) in April 2002 was a matter for the owners of those generating stations.

Renewable Energy

Hugh O'Donnell (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to increase pumped storage hydro capacity to enable excess electricity to be stored for later use when output exceeds demand.

Jim Mather: The Scottish Government recognises the potential benefits of developing effective ways of storing electricity. Hydro pumped storage is one of a range of storage technologies which could be deployed. It is up to the private sector to bring forward proposals for such plants. Any application to construct such a plant will be taken after careful and thorough consideration of all material issues, in accordance with the relevant legislative and planning obligations.

Renewable Energy

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what research it conducted into the benefits of establishing the Scottish European Green Energy Centre.

Jim Mather: The Scottish Government commissioned an independent economic appraisal of the Scottish European Green Energy Centre from EKOS Ltd, which set out the economic impact, strategic fit, and rationale for market intervention of the Centre.

Renewable Energy

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what advice it received, and from whom, on the benefits of establishing the Scottish European Green Energy Centre.

Jim Mather: The Scottish Government received advice on the benefits of establishing the Scottish European Green Energy Centre from a range of organisations. In particular, the economic rationale for intervention was established through independent consultancy advice and the Centre’s objectives and work priorities were refined following detailed discussions with the European Commission, the Energy Technology Partnership, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Scottish Enterprise, Scottish Development International, Scotland Europa and the Scottish EU Energy Network, which comprises representatives of the public, private and voluntary sectors.

  The benefits of establishing the centre have been recognised by both the EU Energy Commissioner and by the UK Government former Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform in correspondence with the First Minister.

Renewable Energy

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what formal requirement there will be for the Scottish European Green Energy Centre to engage with (a) the European Commission, (b) the UK Government, (c) other government departments and agencies, (d) developers and (e) environmental bodies and non-governmental organisations.

Jim Mather: The Scottish European Green Energy Centre business plan sets out how the Centre will work in partnership with these organisations. This partnership working will be essential to the activities of the Centre in practice, although the business plan does not envisage this being a formal requirement.

Renewable Energy

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance is available to assist local authority planners and environmental health officers in the assessment of planning applications that incorporate wood-burning biomass energy elements.

Stewart Stevenson: Scottish Government planning policy and advice on biomass is contained in:

  Scottish Planning Policy (SPP) 6, Renewable Energy (2007),

  Planning Advice Note (PAN) 45, Renewable Energy Technologies (2002) and,

  PAN45 Annex, Planning for Micro-Renewables (2006).

  These documents provide information and guidance to planning authorities on the technology, including fuel types and processes, and the planning issues to be taken into account when considering planning applications.

  Guidance and screening tools to help local authorities assess the potential air quality impacts of such planning applications will be included in the revised guidance issued to authorities to assist them in undertaking their local air quality management duties under the 1995 Environment Act. This guidance is due to be published by the end of 2008.

Renewable Energy

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it believes that the precautionary principle should be applied by local authorities to planning applications that incorporate wood-burning biomass energy elements.

Stewart Stevenson: Scottish Government planning policy and advice on biomass is contained in:

  Scottish Planning Policy (SPP) 6, Renewable Energy (2007),

  Planning Advice Note (PAN) 45, Renewable Energy Technologies (2002) and,

  PAN45 Annex, Planning for Micro-Renewables (2006).

  The contents of these documents are material considerations to be taken into account by the planning authority in the determination of planning applications that incorporate wood-burning biomass energy elements.

  PAN45 Annex highlights that certain wood fuel boiler systems have been approved for use in areas covered by Smokeless Zone Regulations and indicates that a list of such technologies is available at: www.uksmokecontrolareas.co.uk.

Road Accidents

John Scott (Ayr) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive which 20 roads have had the highest number of (a) accidents and (b) fatalities in each of the last five years.

Stewart Stevenson: The following tables provide statistics requested and includes estimates per km of road.

  

 2003


 Injury Road Accidents
 Fatalities
 


 Road
 Number of Injury road Accidents
 Per km of Road
 Road
 Number of road Accident Fatalities
 Per km of Road


 A8
 315
 3.99
 A9
 21
 0.05


 A90
 255
 1.05
 A90
 14
 0.06


 A82
 229
 0.84
 A77
 12
 0.08


 A9
 227
 0.52
 A96
 11
 0.07


 M8
 190
 2.18
 A72
 7
 0.08


 A77
 173
 1.15
 A82
 7
 0.03


 A92
 159
 1.07
 A770
 5
 0.38


 A71
 149
 1.34
 A811
 5
 0.10


 A7
 127
 0.96
 A85
 5
 0.03


 A1
 120
 1.36
 A92
 5
 0.03


 A89
 120
 2.03
 B7078
 5
 0.14


 A814
 109
 1.65
 A71
 4
 0.04


 A96
 101
 0.60
 A713
 4
 0.05


 A726
 99
 2.02
 A8
 4
 0.05


 A78
 91
 1.32
 A84
 4
 0.08


 A702
 90
 0.68
 A93
 4
 0.02


 A761
 89
 2.78
 A701
 3
 0.03


 A85
 88
 0.58
 A726
 3
 0.06


 A70
 83
 0.68
 A74
 3
 0.25


 A91
 83
 1.00
 A75
 3
 0.02



  

 2004


 Injury Road Accidents
 Fatalities
 


 Road
 Number of Injury Road Accidents
 Per km of Road
 Road
 Number of Road Accident Fatalities
 Per km of Road


 A8
 307
 3.89
 A9
 17
 0.04


 A90
 271
 1.12
 A90
 13
 0.05


 M8
 238
 2.74
 A77
 12
 0.08


 A82
 214
 0.79
 A82
 7
 0.03


 A9
 213
 0.49
 A85
 7
 0.05


 A71
 177
 1.59
 A92
 7
 0.05


 A77
 137
 0.91
 A96
 7
 0.04


 A7
 130
 0.98
 A91
 5
 0.06


 A92
 124
 0.84
 A70
 4
 0.03


 A96
 123
 0.74
 A71
 4
 0.04


 A85
 105
 0.69
 M74
 4
 0.08


 A814
 99
 1.50
 A701
 3
 0.03


 A89
 99
 1.68
 A702
 3
 0.02


 A726
 96
 1.96
 A72
 3
 0.04


 A78
 95
 1.38
 A8
 3
 0.04


 A702
 93
 0.70
 A83
 3
 0.02


 A1
 90
 1.02
 A859
 3
 0.03


 A761
 90
 2.81
 A87
 3
 0.02


 A70
 89
 0.73
 A916
 3
 0.19


 A803
 89
 1.62
 A93
 3
 0.02



  

 2005


 Injury Road Accidents
 Fatalities


 Road
 Number of Injury Road Accidents
 Per km of Road
 Road
 Number of Road Accident Fatalities
 Per km of Road


 A8
 269
 3.41
 A82
 10
 0.04


 A90
 235
 0.97
 A90
 9
 0.04


 M8
 222
 2.55
 A85
 7
 0.05


 A82
 210
 0.77
 A92
 7
 0.05


 A9
 192
 0.44
 A947
 6
 0.09


 A77
 153
 1.01
 A1
 5
 0.06


 A71
 143
 1.29
 A75
 5
 0.03


 A96
 139
 0.83
 A9
 5
 0.01


 A7
 126
 0.95
 A923
 5
 0.10


 A92
 120
 0.81
 A7
 4
 0.03


 A1
 110
 1.25
 A70
 4
 0.03


 A814
 106
 1.61
 A76
 4
 0.04


 A89
 94
 1.59
 A96
 4
 0.02


 A803
 90
 1.64
 A701
 3
 0.03


 A70
 87
 0.71
 A71
 3
 0.03


 A761
 84
 2.63
 A713
 3
 0.04


 A726
 76
 1.55
 A74
 3
 0.25


 A85
 73
 0.48
 A77
 3
 0.02


 A702
 72
 0.54
 A811
 3
 0.06


 A721
 72
 1.53
 A814
 3
 0.05



  

 2006


 Injury Road Accidents
 Fatalities


 Road
 Number of Injury Road Accidents
 Per km of Road
 Road
 Number of Road Accident Fatalities
 Per km of Road


 A8
 301
 3.81
 A9
 17
 0.04


 A90
 243
 1.00
 A90
 17
 0.07


 A9
 236
 0.54
 A82
 10
 0.04


 M8
 224
 2.57
 A96
 9
 0.05


 A82
 183
 0.67
 A75
 8
 0.05


 A7
 145
 1.10
 A71
 5
 0.05


 A71
 144
 1.30
 A726
 5
 0.10


 A77
 133
 0.88
 A76
 5
 0.05


 A814
 113
 1.71
 A8
 5
 0.06


 A92
 109
 0.74
 A701
 4
 0.04


 A96
 101
 0.60
 A77
 4
 0.03


 A89
 97
 1.64
 A92
 4
 0.03


 A726
 95
 1.94
 A947
 4
 0.06


 A1
 91
 1.03
 A95
 4
 0.04


 A85
 86
 0.57
 A97
 4
 0.04


 A761
 82
 2.56
 M8
 4
 0.05


 A73
 81
 1.29
 A6105
 3
 0.06


 A803
 79
 1.44
 A72
 3
 0.04


 A70
 78
 0.64
 A84
 3
 0.06


 A81
 78
 1.34
 A91
 3
 0.04



  

 2007


 Injury road accidents
 Fatalities


 Road
 Number of Injury Road Accidents
Per km of Road
 Road
 Number of Road Accident Fatalities
 Per km of Road


 A8
 254
 3.22
 A82
 13
 0.05


 A90
 243
 1.00
 A9
 13
 0.03


 A82
 226
 0.83
 A90
 11
 0.05


 A9
 218
 0.50
 A76
 7
 0.08


 M8
 193
 2.21
 A77
 7
 0.05


 A77
 136
 0.90
 A83
 6
 0.04


 A71
 127
 1.14
 M8
 6
 0.07


 A7
 118
 0.90
 A1
 5
 0.06


 A92
 114
 0.77
 A85
 5
 0.03


 A96
 106
 0.63
 A93
 5
 0.03


 A814
 105
 1.59
 A96
 5
 0.03


 A1
 103
 1.17
 A970
 5
 0.04


 A85
 94
 0.62
 A75
 4
 0.03


 A89
 92
 1.56
 A8
 4
 0.05


 M74
 85
 1.62
 A92
 4
 0.03


 A70
 81
 0.66
 A702
 3
 0.02


 A75
 79
 0.51
 A71
 3
 0.03


 A761
 79
 2.50
 A752
 3
 0.24


 A702
 76
 0.57
 A8011
 3
 0.42


 A726
 72
 1.48
 A828
 3
 0.07



  Source: Scottish Government STATS 19 Returns.

  Note: Each sub-table lists only twenty roads, therefore, in some cases, other roads may have the same numbers of injury road accidents, or fatalities, as the last road shown in a particular sub-table. For example, the A701 was not the only road which had three fatalities in 2003.

Roads

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will announce the funding mechanism for the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route.

Stewart Stevenson: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-16207 on 23 September 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:

  http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

Roads

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost of legal representation and consultants fees will be to Transport Scotland in connection with the public inquiry into the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route.

Stewart Stevenson: These costs are not yet available as the public local inquiry is still on-going.

Roads

Christopher Harvie (Mid Scotland and Fife) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what initiatives it is pursuing to curb the practice of pavement parking and what guidelines are in place for local authorities.

Stewart Stevenson: There are existing powers available to help local authorities and the police in dealing with these illegally parked vehicles. For example, it is an offence to park a vehicle on a road, including the pavement, and to cause an obstruction (Section 103 of the Road Vehicles (Constructions and Use) Regulations 1986). Enforcement is a matter for the police.

  Local authorities can also restrict or prohibit pavement parking by making a Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984. Again, enforcement would be for the police except in local authority areas which have introduced decriminalised parking – there it would be a matter for the Council’s own parking attendants. Whether or not to promote TROs to restrict pavement parking is a matter for the individual road authority.

  Advice, which remains extant, was issued to all local authorities and chief constables in Scotland in 1997. This advice draws attention to the potential hazards of pavement parking and provides guidance on some of the physical measures a roads authority may introduce to deter such parking.

Scottish European Green Energy Centre

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what the remit will be of the Scottish European Green Energy Centre.

Jim Mather: The principal remit of the Scottish European Green Energy Centre is set out in the centre’s three strategic aims:

  Promoting the internationalisation of sustainable energy research

  Fostering good practice in the development and deployment of green energy, and

  Supporting sustainable economic growth and the European Union’s sustainable energy targets

  Further details of how these aims will be realised are contained in the centre’s business plan, a copy of which has been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 47164)

Scottish European Green Energy Centre

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many staff the Scottish European Green Energy Centre will have.

Jim Mather: The Scottish European Green Energy Centre business plan envisages a full staff complement of 10. A copy of the business plan has been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 47164)

Scottish European Green Energy Centre

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what the (a) set-up and (b) annual running costs will be of the Scottish European Green Energy Centre.

Jim Mather: We anticipate that the set-up costs of the Scottish European Green Energy Centre, including the economic report establishing the business case for the centre and the official costs involved in the centre’s study visit to Norway, will be less than £50,000 in the current financial year.

  Anticipated annual running costs are set out in the centre’s business plan, a copy of which has been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 47164), and are budgeted at £800,000 for 2009-10; £1,000,000 for 2010-11, and £1,100,000 for 2011-12.

Scottish European Green Energy Centre

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how the Scottish European Green Energy Centre will be funded.

Jim Mather: The Scottish European Green Energy Centre business plan envisages funding from a range of sources, including the Scottish Government, other public and private bodies, and European Structural Funds, where applications have been submitted to the current round in both the Lowlands and Uplands and Highlands and Islands programmes. A copy of the business plan has been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 47164).

Scottish European Green Energy Centre

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what the Scottish European Green Energy Centre’s work programme is for the next 12 months.

Jim Mather: The Scottish European Green Energy Centre’s work programme for the next 12 months is set out in its business plan (under the heading Three Year Plan). A copy of the business plan has been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 47164).

Scottish Government

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to celebrate Christmas.

John Swinney: The Scottish Government has no corporate plans to celebrate Christmas. Christmas Day is a public holiday and Boxing Day a privilege holiday. In addition, and in keeping with previous years, the following has been or is in the process of being arranged:

  Christmas Trees in the main buildings;

  An official Scottish Government Christmas Card;

  Canteens in the main buildings offering a Christmas lunch menu, and

  A four hour flexi credit for staff.

Scottish Government Staff

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many of its employees offered to take a designated St Andrew’s Day holiday as one of their public holidays this year.

John Swinney: From 2008, staff in the Senior Civil Service and in the core Directorates and those Agencies which make up the Scottish Government Main bargaining unit received an extra holiday to celebrate St Andrew’s Day. As St Andrew’s Day fell on a Sunday, the holiday was observed on Monday 1 December. However, where there were compelling business reasons for areas remaining open on that day, staff were able to take the holiday on a different date.

Scottish Government Staff

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it monitors (a) the financial interests of senior civil servants and (b) companies whose work relates to the work of the division in which they are employed and, if so, by what mechanism.

John Swinney: In line with the principles of the Civil Service Management Code, the Civil Service Code of Conduct and the Financial Reporting Manual all Senior Civil Servants in the core Scottish Government are required to record financial interests on the e-HR self-referral IT facility where there is the potential for a conflict of interest to arise as a result of their official position.

  Staff who come into official contact with matters concerning an organisation in which they have an interest (financial or otherwise) are expected to declare that interest immediately to their line manager. The line manager, in consultation with the Director General where appropriate, is required.

Scottish Water

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive who the remunerations advisers are for Scottish Water.

Stewart Stevenson: That is a matter for Scottish Water. I have asked the chief executive to respond to you directly.

Scottish Water

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether ministers were asked if they approved the £342,555 contractual sum associated with pension top-up arrangements paid to Dr Jon Hargreaves on his resignation as chief executive of Scottish Water in November 2007.

Stewart Stevenson: No. Dr Hargreaves’ terms and conditions on his appointment as Chief Executive of Scottish Water from April 2002, including his pension entitlements, were approved at the time of his appointment.

Scottish Water

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether ministers were involved in the decision to increase from 20% the percentage of salary paid in bonus to executive directors of Scottish Water and, if so, when ministers were involved and to what percentage the level of salary bonus has been increased.

Stewart Stevenson: The current framework agreement for Scottish Water Directors’ remuneration for the 2006-10 regulatory period includes a potential annual bonus of up to 40% of basic salary. This framework was agreed in 2006 with the previous administration. The framework for the earlier period 2002-06 included potential bonuses of up to 40% for directors who had board status and up to 30% for those who did not. Bonuses are paid only in the event of outperformance of the set targets.

Scottish Water

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether a 34% increase in salary for an executive director of Scottish Water is consistent with Scottish Government pay guidance.

Stewart Stevenson: The level of remuneration packages for Scottish Water’s Directors is a matter for Scottish Water’s Board to determine within the remuneration framework agreed with the previous administration in 2006. As part of that framework annual increases in basic salary are limited to the Scottish Government’s guidance for senior public appointments. The increase referred to relates to the difference in the total remuneration package for one director between 2006-07 and 2007-08 which included a revised basic salary, annual bonus and an additional payment for acting as interim chief executive following the resignation of the former CEO in November 2007 and the appointment of the current CEO in March 2008.

Scottish Water

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether Scottish Government pay guidance applies to executive directors of Scottish Water and, if not, what its reasons are for its position on this matter.

Stewart Stevenson: Yes. The executive directors of Scottish Water are subject to Scottish Government pay policy for senior public appointments.

Scottish Water

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how an executive director’s personal performance, which is used to determine 15% of his or her salary, is assessed; how the assessment is conducted, and whether guidance is provided by ministers.

Stewart Stevenson: This is a matter for Scottish Water’s Board to determine within the remuneration framework for directors for 2006-10 agreed in 2006 with the previous administration.

Scottish Water

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it last benchmarked the salaries of Scottish Water’s directors against organisations of similar size and complexity.

Stewart Stevenson: Benchmarking was carried out in 2006 on their behalf by Scottish Water’s advisers and formed part of the board’s and the previous administration’s consideration and agreement of the directors’ remuneration framework for 2006-10.

Scottish Water

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive who is responsible for setting Scottish Water the targets for customer satisfaction, call handling and the number of written complaints, which are used to assist in determining the directors’ salaries.

Stewart Stevenson: These targets are set by Scottish Water’s Board in agreement with its regulator, the Water Industry Commission for Scotland. Bonuses are paid only in the event of outperformance of the set targets.

Scottish Water

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Water Industry Commission has a role in setting or monitoring the criteria used to determine the remuneration of Scottish Water executive directors.

Stewart Stevenson: No. The criteria for director’s remuneration were agreed between Scottish Water’s Board and the previous administration in 2006. Insofar as the bonus element is concerned the board has regard to the Water Industry Commission’s monitoring and reporting of Scottish Water’s performance against its targets. Directors’ bonuses are earned only for outperformance of the targets.

Scottish Water

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Water Industry Commission has a role in assessing the amount set aside from the funding available to Scottish Water for the remuneration of its executive directors.

Stewart Stevenson: No. The Water Industry Commission determines the overall cost of delivering Ministers’ objectives for the water industry in Scotland over a regulatory period. In doing so it considers the overall staffing costs appropriate to a company of Scottish Water’s size in operating its assets and delivering its capital programme, but not the detail of employee remuneration which is for Scottish Water to determine.

Scottish Water

Bill Aitken (Glasgow) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to resolve the pay dispute between Scottish Water and its staff.

Stewart Stevenson: Staff Pay is a matter for Scottish Water and its staff representatives to resolve within the pay remit agreed between Scottish Water and the Scottish Government based on the government’s policy on public sector pay.

Scottish Water

Bill Aitken (Glasgow) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers the pay offer made to Scottish Water staff to be satisfactory.

Stewart Stevenson: Pay offers made by Scottish Water to their staff are a matter for them.

St Andrew’s Day

Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how much it spent on supplying Saltire flags to schools, pre-schools, nurseries, playgroups and family centres for use in the St Andrew’s Day celebrations.

Fiona Hyslop: The cost of Saltire flags sent to schools, pre-schools, nurseries, playgroups and family centres was £12,330.